Paul Pierce Retirement

The Truth: 10-time All-Star, 2008 Finals MVP, and Celtics legend.

Paul Anthony Pierce (born October 13, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player. He played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), predominantly with the Boston Celtics.

Quick Facts

Player: Paul Pierce
Team tenure: 1998–2013 (Celtics)
Key achievement: 2008 NBA Champion & Finals MVP

Lore & Background

Pierce was a high school McDonald's All-American before earning consensus first-team All-America honors as a junior playing college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. After being chosen by the Boston Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft, Pierce spent the first 15 years of his career with Boston. Pierce's nickname, 'the Truth,' was given to him by Shaquille O'Neal in 2001. He earned 10 All-Star selections and became a four-time All-NBA team member throughout his 19 year career. Pierce combined with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007 to form a 'Big Three' that led Boston to two NBA Finals and an NBA championship in 2008. Pierce was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2008. In 2021, Pierce was honored by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Reader's Guide

Pierce spent three years at the University of Kansas between 1995 and 1998. He earned honorable mention All-Big Eight honors and was selected second-team Freshman All-American by Basketball Weekly. He was also honored as the Big Eight Co-Freshman of the Year with Colorado's Chauncey Billups. As a sophomore, Pierce captured the first of two Big 12 Conference tournament Most Valuable Player awards.

As a junior, he won Most Valuable Player honors in both the Preseason NIT and the Big 12 Conference tournament. He was selected First Team All-Big 12 Conference by both the AP and Coaches, and was named Associated Press First Team All-American and a finalist for the 1998 John Wooden and Naismith awards. He scored 777 points as a junior—the fifth-most single-season point total in Jayhawks history. He ranks as the fifth-leading scorer in Kansas history (1,786 points) and 11th on the all-time rebounds list (676).

Did You Know?

Pierce was cut from Inglewood High School's varsity basketball team during his freshman and sophomore years.
He grew up a Los Angeles Lakers fan and dreamed of playing for the team.
Pierce was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 2008 after averaging 22 points per game over the six-game series.
In 2012, Pierce was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans.